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BVMs, Living Justice Press |
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| ‘Catalyst for Rethinking'
Publications by LJP include:
Living Justice Press is located at 2093 Juliet Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105. In addition to Mary Joy and Denise Breton, artist Loretta Draths is a co-founder and designer/maintainer of the LJP website. www.livingjusticepress.org. |
“I cried when I heard we got the grant,” recalls Mary Joy Breton. “We'd tried for several others but it was a time of government cut-backs in money for social justice, a time of tsunami and a hurricane named Katrina, and most charitable giving was for direct aid.” Mary Joy is the self-described “venture-capitalist,” and her daughter, Denise, is the executive editor and production manager of Living Justice Press (LJP), a fledgling publishing company that first took over their dining-room table in 2002, claimed their basement next and then, their entire lives. With the awarding of a BVM ministry grant to Living Justice Press (LJP), Mary Joy and Denise became partners with the Sisters of Charity, BVM, sharing values, mission goals and ministry efforts. Patricia Thalhuber, BVM (Herbert Mary), working in prison ministry in St. Paul, Minn., got to know the Bretons, shared their passion for restorative justice and advised them of the availability of the ministry grants. Pat has taken BVM partnership to a new level this year. She is co-author with Susan Thompson of Building a Home for the Heart: Using Metaphors in Value-Centered Circles, a 2007 LJP publication. Restorative Justice an Alternative to Jail Pat's book is part of a series of affordable books on restorative justice published by LJP. The restorative justice process is an alternative to jail as a consequence for crimes against persons. Practitioners of restorative justice seek to re-establish harmony between offender and victim through processes which work toward restoring breaches in relationships. They seek to penetrate to the heart of the dispute so that understanding replaces resentment and healing can begin. Ideally, a fair and just resolution is agreed upon, and restitution is made by the offender in ways that are acceptable to both parties and which preserve the dignity of each. Restorative justice, unlike retributive justice, seeks non-violent ways to change hearts, restore balance and prevent recidivism. “The buyer list for our publications includes criminal justice lawyers and judges, parole officers, corrections department employees and others in the U.S. jurisprudence milieu,” explains Mary Joy. “That gives me hope! “The restorative justice movement is growing. And energy builds when believers talk. Whether Denise and I succeed in changing society or not, our publications will be our legacy. Our books will be there long after we're gone.” BVM, Peacemaking Values Pat has noted similarities between the Bretons and BVM foundress Mary Frances Clarke. “They share an exquisite sense of mission, have few material resources but consider no obstacle too great to overcome their new venture.” Pat's book is based on her experience using peacemaking circles (based on the principles of restorative justice) with women prisoners, homeless persons, gang members and school children, among others. “The key to the process is respectful listening,” she says. “Developing the power to listen without trying to fix the speaker and refraining from drawing conclusions before the story is done are new skills for most of us.” For Pat, the circles are powerful. “My experience is that I get up from a circle a different person.” She wasn't sure she wanted to write a book, as if the concreteness of the publication would objectify or intrude on the mystery of the process. Now that the book's in print, she's glad the three-year project is done. “We had lots of readers before publication. Native people, judges, probation officers, circle participants all helped so it was truly a community effort,” summarized Pat. The restorative justice community is small but growing. Believers operate on the principle that “It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.(1)” Patricia Thalhuber and her Sisters of Charity, BVM agree, adding that one candle is valuable but it's definitely better to stand with others holding lighted candles than to stand alone. Ministry focus grants enable BVMs to stand with women and men who share the BVM core values of education, justice, charity and freedom. Endnote
About the author: Teri Hadro, BVM entered the congregation in 1965 and currently ministers at Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago as a genetic counselor. Return to Table of Contents. |
“Inspired by restorative justice and community peacemaking, Living Justice Press acts as a catalyst for rethinking what justice means in every aspect of life. Our books explore how individuals, families, schools, communities and Peoples can respond to hurts and conflicts in ways that promote understanding, healing, and deep change—personal to systemic. We will publish books that are useful to practitioners and educators in the field, as well as the general public. We are committed to publishing books that are clearly written, attractively produced, made to last, and afford-ably priced.” — Mission Statement, Living Justice Press.